By Hally Wax, JTNews Correspondent
On Friday, December 17, I had the honor of praying with a small Reform congregation in Des Moines that showed me the true meaning of a Jewish community, but without all the familiar surroundings of a typical shul.
My mother and father-in-law and husband graciously accepted my invitation to accompany me on my journey to “test drive” Bet Chaverim. As a thank you to their enthusiastic support for my JTNews assignment, I treated everyone to a delicious “Shabbat” dinner at Anthony’s Homeport in Des Moines.
After dinner, our adventure began in the parking lot of the Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church, which also houses Bet Chaverim, the only synagogue between Tacoma and Seattle on the I-5 corridor.
Upon our arrival, we noticed that the church was dark and the parking lot was filled with congregants waiting in their cars. After five minutes, the president arrived, opened the double doors, and everyone shuffled into their beloved shul.
As we approached the door, a friendly woman greeted us with a warm smile. This greeting was not just your typical hello—she offered to take our coats, gave a brief tour and encouraged us to make ourselves at home.
After our warm welcome, we picked up our prayer books and headed into Bet Chaverim’s small sanctuary. The surroundings seemed a bit out of character, as the entire room was decorated for the upcoming Christmas holiday with a tree and nativity scene. However, this was no challenge for the Bet Chaverim’s 20 participating congregants.
Volunteers immediately prepared the room for Shabbat. They adorned a small rectangular table with a white tablecloth, and put out a podium, Shabbat candlesticks and a covered challah. The rest of the congregants sat close together and awaited the arrival of Rabbi Ted Stainman.
Shortly past 8 p.m., the Rabbi arrived and greeted his congregants and the newcomers. Before the service began, he asked all the new faces to rise and introduce themselves to the congregation. I found myself smiling with a sense that this was going to be a very rewarding experience.
The service was led by Rabbi Stainman and cantor Sarah, who was also a college student and congregant. Throughout the service, the cantor enthralled the congregation with many of her own exuberant renditions of “L’cha Dodi”, “Veshamru” and my favorite, a new-age take on “Adon Olam.”
She and the rabbi effortlessly engaged the congregation throughout the entire one-hour service. There were no bobbing heads or daydreamers among this crowd.
Like Sarah, the rabbi too had a unique approach to his delivery. He used anecdotes to explain the meaning of various prayers. This “storytelling” made the service more personal and offered an opportunity for congregants to make a stronger connection with the significance of the prayers.
At the close of the service, Rabbi Stainman once again piqued the interest of his fellow worshipers. His sermon told the beginnings of the three Jewish sects and the key people that revolutionized Judaism. I personally learned a lot from this illustrative history lesson.
After the sermon, the rabbi asked the newcomers to stand and be blessed and the service concluded with the entire group holding hands for one final prayer.
Immediately after an exchange of “Shabbat shaloms,” several members invited us to attend the oneg, which also mirrored the good nature of this congregation. The elaborate spread was comprised of several homemade treats. And, I was told that the snickerdoodles traveled all the way from North Seattle.
By the time we finished our first cookie, we were approached by most of the congregation. More importantly, the rabbi took the time to welcome us and talk with each one of us individually.
The evening was capped off with one final defining moment: as we got up to leave, one of Bet Chaverim’s senior members—who was originally from the Bronx—yelled after me, “Honey, you should join the sisterhood!”
Thank you Bet Chaverim for a wonderful and spiritual experience and welcoming my family into your synagogue.
About our Shul Tester
I usually attend services with my husband’s family at Temple Beth El in Tacoma. At present we are unaffiliated, but plan to join a synagogue in the Seattle area later this year.
My spiritual journey into Judaism actually began at Temple Emanu-El, a Reform congregaton in Cleveland, Ohio. From consecration through my Bat Mitzvah and confirmation, this congregation taught me the importance of being Jewish and practicing mitzvot.
As my husband and I “test drive” our potential synagogues, we will be looking for the same kind of passion and spirit that was displayed at Bet Chaverim—just a little closer to our Bellevue home.
—Hally Wax